Humans are born to love, yet fear clouds our rational judgment and convinces us that life is not a series of Hallmark movie moments.

I’m changing my attitude. I spent years hating Valentine’s Day because I didn’t think I had the energy to love. Growing up with Lyme, I thought I was too broken to love, and lacked the confidence to love myself. Now that I’m out of the woods of tick-borne disease, I realize I wasted years afraid love would cause more pain than all the blood draws, injections, and mountains of medical bills. However, that now sounds crazy. Humans are born to love, yet fear clouds our rational judgment and convinces us that life is not a series of Hallmark movie moments. But what if our judgement is wrong? Looking past the candy hearts and discount bouquets, I want to return to the root of Valentine’s day. Whether it’s a day spent alone, with a partner, or a group of gals, Valentine’s day should serve as a reminder that love actually IS all around us (thanks Hugh Grant!).